😊 Helping Feels Good — But Why?

Have you ever:

• Given someone a gift?

• Helped someone who was sad?

• Shared your lunch?

How did you feel?

Probably: Happy! Warm inside! Like a hero!

But why does helping make us feel good?

Let’s explore what genes might have to do with it.

🧠 Our Brain Has “Feel-Good” Buttons

When we help someone, our brain can:

• Release “happy chemicals”

• Make us feel proud

• Make us feel calm

These are rewards.

Just like getting a candy or sticker — your brain says:

“Hey! That was good. Do it again!”

🧬 Why Would Genes Want That?

Think back to earlier lessons:

• Genes survive when bodies stay safe

• Sometimes kindness keeps us safe

• Kind people may get help later

• Or make friends who protect them

So genes that made the brain feel good after helping…

…got copied more!

Because people with those genes:

• Helped others

• Got help back

• Stayed safer

• Had more kids

• And passed on those “feel-good-helping” genes

🧠 Your Brain = Your Gene’s Helper

Your brain is not “you” in the deep-down way.

It’s really like a helper for your genes.

It gives rewards when:

• You eat

• You drink water

• You make friends

• You help someone

All of those things can help your body… and help your genes survive.

🎭 Sometimes It’s Real. Sometimes It’s Strategy.

You may feel very kind — and that’s real!

But sometimes, that feeling comes from old gene tricks.

Kindness helps the group.
The group helps you.
You get copied.

So kindness can feel warm… and still be part of the gene’s clever plan.

🧠 Recap

✅ Helping others feels good
✅ The brain gives you rewards when you help
✅ These rewards may be gene strategies to keep you helping
✅ Kind people often stay safer and get copied more
✅ So some genes made “helping = happy” as a survival trick